Adjustable roller hanger for paper folding machines



G. T. APPELL Feb. 13, 1962 ADJUSTABLE ROLLER HANGER FOR PAPER FOLDING MACHINES Filed Dec. 21. 1959 Gedrge 7f Appe/l INVENTOR. 405 WW4; 15%

Fig. 4

The present invention generally relates to a support structure and more particularly a hanger structure for a roller employed in a paper folding machine.

Paper folding machines are employed for various purposes and are especially useful where a plurality of sheets of paper, booklets or the like are to be folded for mailing. One distributor of paper folding machines is Russell Ernest Baum, Inc, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the present invention is primarily constructed for use with the type of machine distributed by the above company although it is adapted for use with various paper folding machines. Paper folding machines lnclude an assembly of rollers through which the sheets of paper pass during the folding operation. These rollers are mounted on brackets which have one end thereof pivotally supported from a stationary machine and have the other end thereof adjustably supported for varying the pressure exerted by the roller and varying the position of the roller so that various thicknesses of stock may be folded by the machine. Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a novel adjustable roller hanger for such paper folding machines which will be longer lasting, easily adjusted, quieter and smoother in operation, well adapted for its particular purposes and generally inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable roller hanger for paper folding machines in which the hanger rod for the roller bracket is universally swivelly connected to the roller bracket and will permit the necessary swinging movement of the roller bracket while maintaining a surface-to-surface contact with the spring which retains the pressure on the roller bracket and roller.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side trating the adjustable hanger for a paper folding machine with the such a machine being illustrated;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating further structural details of the adjustable hanger and the relationship thereof with the roller and roller bracket;

FIGURE 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the construction of the connection between the threaded hanger rod and the roller bracket;

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the structure of the hanger bracket; and

FIGURE 5 is a detailed fragmental side elevational view of the swinging end of the roller bracket.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the roller hanger of the present elevational view illusthe roller bracket of number one roller of invention for connection with a roller hanger bracket 12 forming a part of a paper folding machine generally designated by numeral 14. The details of the paper folding machine form no part of the present invention and are not illustrated.

The roller bracket 12 is generally elongated and one end thereof designated by numeral 16 is pivotally supported from the frame of the machine by a support pin or shaft 18 in the form of an eccentric which provides a pivot point for swinging movement of the bracket 12 and also provides for adjustment of the pivot point and the position of the roller. Intermediate the ends of the bracket 12, a roller 20 is supported by virtue of end axles or shafts 22 being supported by a wooden bearing 24 placed in an enlarged central opening 26 in the central part of the bracket 12. The wood bearing 24 is impregnated with lubricant thus providing long wearing qualities for holding the roller 20 for rotational movement about the axis of the shaft or axle 22. The roller 20 will engage a corresponding stationary roller 28 for forming a crotch or bight for receiving the paper material to be folded. The roller 28 will rotate but is stationary as far as lateral movement is concerned.

The end of the bracket 12 remote from the pivot point is provided with a projecting arm integral therewith and designated by numeral 30. The hanger of the presentinvention is connected to the arm 30 for moving the arm 30 about the pivot pin 18 for varying the pressure of the roller 26- on the stationary roller 28 and on the paper stock being fed between the rollers 2i and 28 and will also suspend the arm 36 in elevated position. The arm 30 is provided with a partial spherical projection 32 on the upper surface thereof and a partial spherical projection 34 on the lower surface thereof which cooperate to form somewhat of a ball shaped upper and lower surface for the arm 30. Also, the arm 30 is provided with a vertically disposed passageway or bore 36 therethrough which tapers outwardly from the center point. In other words, the diameter of the bore 36 is the smallest at the center point of the arm and the side walls thereof diverge outwardly towards the upper and lower surfaces thereof.

Extending through the bore 36 is a threaded rod or stem 38 having a threaded cap 46 on the lower end thereof and a movable cap 42 on the upper end thereof. Each of the caps 40 and 42 is provided with a partial spherical recess 44 in the inner face or surface thereof for engagement with the partial spherical projections 34 and 32, respectively. Thus, when the caps 46 and 42 are in engagement with the projections 34 and 32, respectively, a universally movable connection is formed between the rod 38 and the arm 30.

The cap 42 is provided with a longitudinally projecting sleeve 46 which forms a seat for one end of a coil spring 48 which is disposed longitudinally on the rod 38, the upper end of the spring 48 engaging a knurled spring seat 50 threaded on rod 38 and held longitudinally adjustably thereon by setscrew 52 for adjusting the constant spring seat pressure. The upper end of the rod 38 is provided with a cap 54 which may be in the form of an acorn nut and a washer 56 is disposed under the nut 54. The washer rests against threaded knurled knob 58 mounted on the rod 38. A bracket 60 is also threadedly mounted on the rod 38 and is movable between the spring seat member 5t and a knurled knob 62 mounted on rod 38 and which also is provided with a washer. The bracket 60 is supported from the frame of the folding machine by virtue of an internally threaded socket or the like. The knob 62 also acts as a lock nut for locking the rod to the bracket while knob 58 serves as a knob to rotate rod 38 in relation to bracket 60 when Patented Feb. 13, 1962 I knob 62 is loosened thereby providing an accurate and precise adjustment.

The particular construction of the universal connection between the rod 38 and the arm 30 permits the arm 30 to swing about the axis of the pin 18 while the spring maintains the caps in surface contact with the surfaces of projections on the arm 39 thereby eliminating vibration by maintaining pressure on the seats forming the universal connection. This device not only provides a constant adjustable seat tension on top of the hanger but also a firm adjusted seating when the roller is suspended from the hanger. It also maintains a setting for a longer period of time while permitting an accurate and precise setting. The wear in all of the moving parts is reduced and especially in the roller.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A roller hanger comprising a bracket, means pivotally supporting said bracket, a roller journaled on the bracket in spaced relation to said support means, and a hanger connected to the bracket in spaced relation to the roller and supporting means, said hanger including a rod, said bracket having a bore receiving one end of the rod, and means interconnecting said rod and bracket providing universal relative movement therebetween, said interconnecting means including a partial spherical projection on the upper surface of the bracket in encircling relation to said bore, a partial spherical projection on the lower surface of the bracket in encircling relation to said bore, adjustable caps on the rod engaging the projections, each of said caps having a partial spherical recess on the inner face thereof for engagement with the projections on the bracket, the bore through the bracket having a diameter slightly larger than the rod at the center thereof with the bore tapering outwardly towards both partial spherical projections thereby permitting limited universal relative movement between the bracket and rod.

2. For use with a paper folding machine having a movable roller, mounted thereon, a hanger assembly comprising a bracket journaling the roller and pivotally sup ported from the machine adjacent one end of the bracket, an arm extending from the opposite end of the bracket and having a bore extending therethrough, an elongated rod extending through said bore, a supporting member adjustably mounted on said rod and rigidly connected to the machine, spherical projections on each side of arm in encircling relation to said bore, a stationary seat member on the rod, a movable seat rnember mounted on the rod, each seat member havinga recess engaging a projection and providing a universal connection between the arm and rod, a spring engaged with said movable seat member for maintaining constant spring pressure on said seat members, and means on said rod for adjusting the spring tension whereby the position of the bracket may be adjusted and the tension on said spring adjusted.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said rod is threaded through said support member, and a lock nut on said rod for locking the rod in adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080.505 Rader et al. May 18, 1937 2,361,496 Pointer Oct. 31, 1944 2,549,320 Makin Apr. 17, 1951 2,699,331 McGarvey et a1 Jan. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 722,855 Germany July 23, 1942 

